Subject: English Language Learners
Grade Level(s): K – 12
Measures Growth: No
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The Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment is used annually to measure the English language acquisition of English language learners. The test is taken in two parts, the first measuring reading and writing and the second measuring speaking and listening.
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach
Cons: Does not assess higher-order thinking • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Pros: Easy to administer • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Results are not returned quickly • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
I have proctored the MEPA any number of times, and each time I have felt that the test does not come close to testing what our students are actually capable of. To become an ELL teacher, I took both aural comprehension and oral production tests; the MELA-O cannot substitute for those, allthough is is useful for coming from teachers' having watched students over time. The written, test, however, focuses too much on small details of grammar or vocabulary. Another gripe that I have is that students don't have access to previous tests in order to sense what the test will be like.
Submitted by Melissa in Massachusetts on April 5, 2012
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Pros: Easy to administer
Cons: Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
This assessment did not tell me anything new about my students' language ability or needs.
Submitted by Rhiannon in Massachusetts on April 5, 2012
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Pros: Easy to administer
Cons: Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
This assessment did not tell me anything new about my students' language ability or needs.
Submitted by Rhiannon in Massachusetts on April 5, 2012
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Does not assess higher-order thinking • Takes students too long to complete
Cons: Results are not returned quickly • It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
There is not really any growth measure other than change in scaled score. The ties to what actually happens in classrooms seems minimal.
Submitted by Bruce in Massachusetts on April 5, 2012
Pros: Assesses a range of students, including those from far below to far above grade level • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Does not assess higher-order thinking
Pros: Data is presented clearly
Cons: Results are not returned quickly
The MEPA test is administered annually and there are only 5 levels with a very narrow definition of when a student is "making progress." It is a yearly summative assessment but not helpful as formative. It also takes months to receive the results.
Submitted by Rebecca in Massachusetts on March 10, 2012
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